Did Kelly Clarkson Convince Taylor Swift to Re-Record Her Old Songs?

It’s been a Summer for the Swifties. With nonstop attention on the lyrical phenom that is Taylor Swift, there isn’t a week that’s gone by where the famous singer‘s name hasn’t been in the headlines. Ever since Swift announced her newest studio album, Lover, which has already shattered several world records across the globe, all eyes have been on the talented 29-year-old. But Swift also garnered a different type of attention this Summer when she publically called out Scooter Braun for acquiring ownership of the masters for her first six albums. But now Swift plans to re-record those songs and she has Kelly Clarkson to thank for the idea.

Taylor Swift | Efren Landaos/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Swift calls out Scooter Braun

Earlier this Summer, Swift accused Braun of bullying her in the past after he purchased her old record company, Big Machine Records. She took to her Tumblr page to express that she was “sad and grossed out” by the fact that the original recordings of her first six albums (known as masters) would rest in the hands of someone she has personal issues with. Soon after Swift called Braun out, she announced that she would be re-recording her first five albums beginning next year.

Swift makes an announcement while promoting Lover

In an exclusive interview with Good Morning America, Swift revealed her reasoning behind this decision. Speaking about her most recent album, Lover, Swift explained how excited she was to finally own the music she’d created. “One thing that’s really special to me is that it’s the first one that I will own. Which is a concept that they’re [Swift’s fans] very supportive of,” she confessed amongst a screaming crowd of fans.

When Robin Roberts questioned Swift on whether she’d be re-recording her previous songs so as to acquire rights to those as well, she immediately confirmed the speculation. “Yeah, that’s true, and it’s something that I’m very excited about doing because my contract says that starting November 2020 — so, next year — I can record albums 1 through 5 all over again — I’m very excited about it. … I think artists deserve to own their work. I just feel very passionately about that. Yeah, it’s next year, it’s right around the corner, I’m going to be busy, I’m really excited,” the “You Need To Calm Down” singer confessed.

Kelly Clarkson shows Swift another way

But just where did Swift get the idea to re-record her old songs so that she could claim ownership of them as well? It seems the idea came from another musical icon, Kelly Clarkson. “@taylorswift13 just a thought, U should go in & re-record all the songs that U don’t own the masters on exactly how U did them but put brand new art & some kind of incentive so fans will no longer buy the old versions. I’d buy all of the new versions just to prove a point,” Clarkson tweeted to Swift back in July.

@taylorswift13 just a thought, U should go in & re-record all the songs that U don’t own the masters on exactly how U did them but put brand new art & some kind of incentive so fans will no longer buy the old versions. I’d buy all of the new versions just to prove a point ‍♀️

Clarkson gave Swift the idea to re-record her songs

On a recent episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Clarkson opened up about how she came to give Swift this important suggestion. “We saw each other actually after I did that,” Clarkson said. “I wasn’t really trying to defend or offend anyone. It was more like, Reba told me she did that,” Clarkson added, referring to her mother-in-law and famous country singer, Reba McEntire. Clarkson expressed that McEntire came to her, stating that she wanted to own her music, and how she encouraged McEntire to do so.

Swifties are looking forward to new albums

“And I was like, ‘Well if it’s that important to you, like find a way’. And she recut all of her music and did it with the same musicians, the same everything. That’s where I got the idea,” Clarkson confessed. The original American Idol also mentioned that she understands Swift’s motivation for wanting to own all of her music, considering she writes or co-writes 100% of her songs.

We love seeing powerful women in the industry support one another. We’re sure Swifties everywhere are grateful to Clarkson for giving them the opportunity to hear classic Taylor Swift songs in a whole new light.